ALLENTOWN, Pa. - Allentown police, the FBI and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are investigating a deadly car explosion in the city.
It happened around 9:30 p.m. Saturday on Turner Street in the area of 7th and 8th streets.
Neighbors tell 69 News they heard a loud blast that shook their homes and they saw a car on fire.
Police confirmed at least one person was killed. Multiple witnesses said there appeared to be more than one person in the car when it exploded
Allentown police assistant chief Gail Struss said in a news release early Sunday the public should avoid the area from 7th to 8th Street and Linden to Chew Streets. “We also ask that the residents that live inside that area to shelter in place until further notice,” Struss said.
Police said Saturday night the shelter-in-place was in effect due to concerns of a secondary explosion.
A shelter has been set up at Cleveland Elementary School at 424 N. 9th Street for anyone that has been displaced by the incident, the release said.
The investigation is ongoing and there will be no further comment at this time, police said.
The Allentown Police Department is being assisted by the Allentown Fire Department, ATF, FBI, Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office, the Lehigh County Homicide Task Force, the Lehigh County Coroner’s Office and Pennsylvania State Police.
This investigation is ongoing, and anyone who may have information related to this incident is asked to contact the Allentown Police Detective Bureau at 610-437-7721.
The FBI in Philadelphia said in a tweet personnel are assisting law enforcement “to assess the situation and determine the cause, with public safety the Bureau’s highest priority
News (radio) report I heard a couple hours ago while driving home had a witness who said they heard the explosion, ran to the scene, and found, strewn about, pieces of the car and... body parts.